The New Nation - Internet Edition

'Gender equality a must for women empowerment'

BSS, Narsingdi

Speakers at a discussion on Sunday underlined the need for ensuring hygienic education, security, gender equality and human rights for empowering women workers of the country.

They also stressed the need for eliminating disparity towards the womenfolk working in the jute mills.

The speakers observed that the women also need financial support for developing the role of women education, hygiene, empowering of women and women rights. They also observed that women face domestic violence frequently due to lack of awareness among the people despite existing laws.

Chinishpur Dipshikha Mohila Samity (CDMS), a non government development organization, working for promoting hygiene, security, gender and human rights of the women workers of jute mills arranged the discussion at its office conference room with its Executive Director Sofura Begum was in the chair.

Jasmin Ara Begum, Women Affairs officer, polash upazila attended the discussion as the chief guest while it was addressed ,among others, Mohammad Abu Taher, BSS correspondent, Afroja Begum programme officer, women affairs office and Toffazal Hossain, News Editor of Weekly Narsingdir Khabor.

Cooperative attitude to build violence-free society stressed

BSS, Rangpur

Speakers at a discussion recently stressed the need for showing cooperative attitude to each other among the family members to bring down domestic violence and social crimes to zero level in creating a peaceful society.

Mithapukur upazila Paribarik Nirjatan Protirodh Jote (PNPJ) organized the meeting for preventing from domestic violence against women repression and other family problems at Hena Memorial Mohila College in the upazila town.

Chaired by Acting principal of the college Prof Khwajanur Rahman Khwaja, the meeting was addressed, among others, by Lecturers Golam Mostafa, Rezaul Haque, Mizanur Rahman, Shakila Parveen, Hasina Zaman, member- secretary of PNPJ Pradip Kumar Goswami and Subhas Chandra Sheel of Gano Unnayan Kendra.

Over 120 participants including teachers, civil society members, professionals, public representatives, women community leaders, students and NGO activists attended.

The speakers discussed various types of domestic violence and repression against women in almost every family due to lack of awareness and called for undertaking a collective initiative by the civil society in building a crime-free society.

Boro farming to exceed target in N region

BSS, Rangpur

The farmers have completed plantation of Boro seedlings in 98 percent targeted land with a possibility of farming the crop in 15 to 20 percent more land than the fixed target this year in the northern districts.

"Boro plantation has already exceeded the fixed targets in many northern districts and nearing completion in some five more districts though the last official date of plantation expires on March 15 next," they added.

The DAE officials said that the farmers are continuing plantation of Boro seedlings to their lands and the process will continue till March 15 next that will enable them in bringing 15 to 20 percent more land than the fixed target under Boro cultivation. The farmers and the government have engaged their all efforts and resources to respond to the call of Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at Rangpur to make the Boro farming programme successful to ensure food security in the country.

Officials said that the farmers have been working sincerely understanding that the government has given the maximum priority to an increased Boro rice production this year and onwards.

While talking to BSS, farmers of different northern districts thanked the government for assuring smooth supply of fertilizers, pesticides, power, irrigation and all other necessary inputs for achieving an all-time record Boro production to ensure food security in the country.

The agri-scientists and experts appointed by the government to 61 districts have been conducting their special duties by providing necessary practical knowledge, experience, advice and assistance to the district and upazila level DAE officials and field level farmers.

As per their advice, the farmers planted Boro seedlings in more lands within the first week of February, as the same will be harvested a month earlier than those to be planted later. Following the concerted efforts of the government, the farmers are expected to bring over 16 lakh hectares under Boro farming against the DAE fixed a target of producing 59,58,980 metric tons of Boro rice from 15,08,137 hectares this season in the region.

"We are expecting an all-time record and bumper Boro production since independence and the estimated rice production might be around 67 lakh tonnes for increased cultivation in the region this season," the experts and officials said.

The government has ordered all concerned agriculture related authorities to timely complete the special steps taken by the government for smooth and successful Boro farming in larger scales aiming at increasing the production further.

Pran group to launche Bangla Dairy in Natore

BSS, Natore

Pran-RFL group is going to launch the country's largest milk producing center in Natore.

Chief Executive officer of Pran group Major General (Retd) Amjad Khan Chowdhury said this at a press conference held at the auditorium of Natore Chamber of Commerce and Industries on Thursday.

He said though keeping of milking cow is always profitable but due to ignorance and mismanagement people do not get expected result.

Amjad Khan assured the milk producers that Pran-RFL group will provide easy term loans and treatment facilities of cows beside buying milk in fair price.

He said to ensure intensive assistance to the milk producers the Pran group has already declared Sridharpur village of Natore as 'Milk Village'.

News Briefs

Indian clothes seized

Comilla, Mar 1: BDR jawans, in separate drives, seized Indian clothes worth Tk 1.50 crore in the district on Friday midnight and Saturday morning. BDR sources said a team of 33 Rifles Battalion after a hot chase seized a covered-van at Harisardar in Chouddagram upazila on Dhaka-Chittagong highway. Clothes worth Tk 1.25 crore were seized from the van, the sources said. None was arrested in this connection as the smugglers fled the scene sensing danger, reports UNB.

Schoolgirl killed in boat capsize

Chapainawabganj, Mar 1: A schoolgirl was killed and two others were injured when a boat, carrying picnic party of a local school, capsized in Punarbhoba river near Rohanpur in Gomostapur upazila Saturday morning. Local people said 175 schoolgirls and teachers of Rohanpur Rabeya Girls' High School, boarding on two engine boats, started for picnic spot in Kalpur ghat area from Burirghat at about 9.30am. One of the boats suddenly sank near Buritala ghat with all its passengers at about 10am. All the passengers of the sunken boat, except one, managed to swim ashore or were rescued by the local people, reports UNB.

Sharks recovered

Bagerhat, Mar 1: Members of coast guard recovered three sharks from fishing trawlers in Shibsa River in Garaikhali area adjacent to the Sundarbans on Friday. Coast guard west zone commander captain Abidur Rahman said on suspicion their members raided some fishing trawlers in the area and recovered the dead sharks. None was arrested in this connection. Later, the sharks were handed over to Sundarbans Forest Division. It may be mentioned that government banned the catching of sharks. Sources said an organized gang of smugglers used to smuggle meat of the sharks abroad after processing in Dhaka since long. Earlier, on February 12, the coast guard members recovered eight sharks from some trawlers, reports UNB.

Husband kills wife in Jessore

Jessore, Mar 1: A woman was killed allegedly by her husband following a family feud at Lebugati village in Monirampur upazila on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Bidodari alias Biddo, 42, wife of Jhatubor Roy of the village. Police said Jhatubor beat his wife to death following a quarrel and hanged the body from the ceiling of his house. On information, police rushed to the spot and recovered the hanging body of the victim. The law enforcers could not arrest Jhatubo as he fled the scene sensing their presence, reports UNB.

Motorcyclist killed in road accident

Manikganj, Mar 1: A motorcyclist was killed in a tragic road accident in Khalmatia area of Shibalaya upazila on Dhaka-Aricha highway Friday afternoon. Police said a Dhaka-bound truck, loaded with goods, rammed into the motorcycle of Ramjan, 26, son of Mukter of Dakla village in the upazila, at about 1:00pm killing him on the spot. He was returning home from Manikganj town. The killer truck fled the scene soon after the accident. Later, police on information, recovered the body and sent it to Sadar hospital morgue for autopsy, reports UNB.

Youth found dead in Kurigram

Kurigram, Mar 1: A young man was found dead at Sukhdeb Manabari village in Rajarhat upazila Thursday night. Police said local people found the body of Hafizur, 25, son of Nuruzzaman of the village, floating in a pond in the morning and informed them. Family sources said Hafizur remained missing since he went out of his house Wednesday night. Later, police recovered the body that bore injury marks and sent it to Sadar hospital morgue for autopsy. Police arrested Shamsul Alam Master of the village in connection with the murder. A case was filed, reports UNB.